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Efficacy of an online cognitive behavioral therapy program developed for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: the REduction of STress (REST) study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Weiner, Luisa; Berna, Fabrice; Nourry, Nathalie; Severac, François; Vidailhet, Pierre; Mengin, Amaury C.
  • Weiner L; Pôle de Psychiatrie, Santé Mentale et Addictologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 place de l'hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. weiner.l@gmail.com.
  • Berna F; Laboratoire de Psychologie des Cognitions, Université de Strasbourg, 12 rue goethe, 67000, Strasbourg, France. weiner.l@gmail.com.
  • Nourry N; Pôle de Psychiatrie, Santé Mentale et Addictologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 place de l'hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
  • Severac F; INSERM U1114 Neuropsychologie Cognitive et Physiopathologie de la Schizophrénie, Strasbourg, France.
  • Vidailhet P; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
  • Mengin AC; Faculté de Médecine, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Trials ; 21(1): 870, 2020 Oct 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-883592
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The acknowledgment of the mental health toll of the COVID-19 epidemic in healthcare workers has increased considerably as the disease evolved into a pandemic status. Indeed, high prevalence rates of depression, sleep disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been reported in Chinese healthcare workers during the epidemic peak. Symptoms of psychological distress are expected to be long-lasting and have a systemic impact on healthcare systems, warranting the need for evidence-based psychological treatments aiming at relieving immediate stress and preventing the onset of psychological disorders in this population. In the current COVID-19 context, internet-based interventions have the potential to circumvent the pitfalls of face-to-face formats and provide the flexibility required to facilitate accessibility to healthcare workers. Online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in particular has proved to be effective in treating and preventing a number of stress-related disorders in populations other than healthcare workers. The aim of our randomized controlled trial study protocol is to evaluate the efficacy of the 'My Health too' CBT program-a program we have developed for healthcare workers facing the pandemic-on immediate perceived stress and on the emergence of psychiatric disorders at 3- and 6-month follow-up compared to an active control group (i.e., bibliotherapy).

METHODS:

Powered for superiority testing, this six-site open trial involves the random assignment of 120 healthcare workers with stress levels > 16 on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to either the 7-session online CBT program or bibliotherapy. The primary outcome is the decrease of PSS-10 scores at 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes include depression, insomnia, and PTSD symptoms; self-reported resilience and rumination; and credibility and satisfaction. Assessments are scheduled at pretreatment, mid-treatment (at 4 weeks), end of active treatment (at 8 weeks), and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up.

DISCUSSION:

This is the first study assessing the efficacy and the acceptability of a brief online CBT program specifically developed for healthcare workers. Given the potential short- and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers' mental health, but also on healthcare systems, our findings can significantly impact clinical practice and management of the ongoing, and probably long-lasting, health crisis. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04362358 , registered on April 24, 2020.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Health Personnel / Coronavirus Infections / Betacoronavirus / Internet-Based Intervention Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Long Covid Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Trials Journal subject: Medicine / Therapeutics Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S13063-020-04772-7

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Health Personnel / Coronavirus Infections / Betacoronavirus / Internet-Based Intervention Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Long Covid Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Trials Journal subject: Medicine / Therapeutics Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S13063-020-04772-7